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Jakarta Post

Trigana halts flights to Mulia

Trigana Air, which has been serving the route between Jayapura and Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, has suspended its services due to the current security situation in Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post)
Jayapura
Tue, November 1, 2011

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Trigana halts flights to Mulia

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rigana Air, which has been serving the route between Jayapura and Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, has suspended its services due to the current security situation in Papua.

A number of pilots have expressed their fears and asked for safety assurances when flying to Mulia following the shooting incident at Mulia Airport on Oct. 24 in which police chief Adj. Comr. Dominggus Otto Awes was killed.

“Our pilots won’t feel safe flying there until the authorities provide safety assurances. They fear the shooting incident in which the police chief was killed could recur,” said PT Trigana Air Papua general manager Bustomi Eka Priyatna, when reached by The Jakarta Post in Jayapura on Monday.

The flights to Mulia were suspended on Oct. 30 and will resume once safety assurances from the authorities have been provided.

Bustomi said civilian groups, some armed, had often caused problems for incoming planes in Mulia and surrounding areas. “Earlier, one of our planes was shot while in flight. Our pilots believe that the shooting was carried out by an armed group,” he said without elaborating.

Bustomi added that his office would only resume flights to Mulia if the government ensured safety.

Trigana Air flies to Mulia on a charter basis carrying passengers and cargo. “We have no fixed schedule but are based on charter. However, we could fly as often as three times a week to Mulia carrying passengers and cargo,” he said.

Puncak Jaya Regent Lukas Enembe said he understood the reason why pilots had asked for safety assurances, as the shooting incident which killed Mulia Police chief Adj. Comr. Dominggus took place at the airport and was observed by the pilots.

Lukas said the provincial administration would build a fence around the Mulia Airport to prevent trespassers as well as providing a sense of security to flight operators.

“We have not yet built a fence around the airport but will build it soon. So far, the airport is open to everyone, even up to the planes,” he added.

In response to the safety demands, Lukas said he would coordinate with security forces.

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